In Solidarity with the AAPI Community

Dear SCIHE KC,

There have been so many disparate acts of violence toward the Asian American community that the KC has been challenged with regard to how to adequately reach out to our constituency. Shonda lives in the Bay Area and the elder abuse that has occurred here has been appalling. The taking of the lives in Atlanta moves us to deep sorrow.

As a Knowledge Community that focuses on social class, we know that the Asian American community is quite diverse, and that its treatment as a monolithic entity that has achieved success in America has often been used as a cudgel against other marginalized people by those who practice white supremacist ideology. We know that there are indeed working class Asian folks who should be included in our discourse about who Asian American people are. We know that no matter their wealth, affluent Asians are subject to racist attacks. We will discuss these ideas more in depth during Asian American and Pacific Islander Awareness Month.

At this time we want to offer our support to our Asian American colleagues across NASPA, and the students we serve as student affairs professionals.

 

In solidarity,

Shonda and Mitchell